Insulated contact

Abstract

An improved electrical terminal is disclosed having a mating first end and a conductor engaging second end which is of the insulation piercing type including at least two tine members defining a conductor engaging slot therebetween. At least a portion of the conductor engaging end of the terminal is coated with a layer of insulation. As a terminal, which has the entire second end coated with insulation, is engaged with a conductor, the tines penetrate the conductor insulation and a portion of the insulation coating is stripped from the slot by the interference fit of the conductor in the slot to effect good mechanical and electrical interconnection therebetween. Also, only the tips of the tines can be coated to assure no electrical contact with any conductor they might engage. Thus the subject terminal may be used on shielded cable when it is desired to interconnect with the conductors but not with the shielding. In cases of cables having conductors on close center lines, where there might be concern about the occurrence of shorting between a terminal and an adjacent conductor, terminals having insulation coating their sides can be used.

We claim: 
     
       1. An electrical connector for terminating multi-layered cable by contacting conductors of only a single layer, said cable having a first layer of conductors in parallel spaced alignment and at least one second layer of conductors, all layers being fully encased in insulating material with no portion of the insulation or said at least one second layer being removed to effect proper termination, said connector comprising: a plurality of electrical terminals, each having a profiled insulation piercing and conductor engaging end portion formed by a blade shaped to pierce the insulation of said cable and including a slot dimensioned to receive a respective one of said conductors of said first layer therein in tight connecting engagement, said blade being coated with dielectric material;   a housing of insulative material having said terminals mounted therein in a closely spaced condition with said end portion exposed from a mating face; and   whereby upon termination of said cable said blade shaped portions penetrate said insulation and the conductors of said first layer are forced into slots of respective terminals to make electrical contact only with the conductors of said first layer of said cable with said dielectric material preventing establishment of electrical contact with conductors of other layers of conductors of said cable, no insulation or portion of said at least one second layer of conductors being removed from said cable at the point of termination.   
     
     
       2. A method for terminating multi-layered cable by contacting conductors of only a single layer, said cable having a first layer of conductors in parallel spaced alignment and at least one second layer of conductors, all layers being fully encased in insulating material at the point of termination with no portion of the insulation or said at least one second layer of conductors being removed to effect said termination, said method comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of electrical terminals, each having a profiled insulation piercing and conductor engaging end portion formed by a blade shaped to pierce the insulation of said cable and including a slot dimensioned to receive a respective one of said conductors of said first layer therein in tight connecting engagement, said blade being coated with dielectric material;   mounting said terminals in a housing in a closely spaced condition with said end portion exposed from a mating face; and   terminating the conductors of the first layer of said cable with said terminals, without removal of any insulation from said cable, by forcing conductors into respective slots whereby electrical contact is made only with the conductors of said first layer of said cable by engaging in said slot and said dielectric material prevents electrical contact with conductors of other layers of said cable and adjacent terminals.   
     
     
       3. A method according to claim 2 wherein: said at least one second layer of conductors of said cable is a shielding grid.   
     
     
       4. A method according to claim 2 wherein: said dielectric materials are selected from the group including vinyls, enamels and urethanes.   
     
     
       5. A method according to claim 2 wherein: said dielectric material is plated onto said terminals.   
     
     
       6. A method according to claim 2 wherein: said dielectric material is applied in powder form by a fluidized bed process.   
     
     
       7. A method according to claim 2 wherein: said dielectric material is applied to said terminals in liquid form.   
     
     
       8. A method according to claim 2 wherein: said dielectric material is applied to said terminals exclusive of the conductor engaging portion.